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London Welsh nilled by Exeter

Exeter Chiefs got their Premiership campaign off to a fine start with a 52-0 win over London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday.

Thomas Waldrom touched down twice in the first half, while Henry Slade also added a penalty, as the Sandy Park-based outfit took a 17-0 lead into the interval.

And Exeter cruised to a dominant opening weekend triumph as Dave Ewers, Sam Hill, Ian Whitten, Jack Arnott and Chrysander Botha all crossed in the second period to complete an excellent display.

It proved to be a chastening experience for newly-promoted Welsh who brought in a remarkable 25 players over the summer. They started brightly enough, with Nick Scott going close, but the hosts’ disorganisation was soon exposed by a powerful Chiefs’ side.

Defensively they were all at sea and it took just 11 minutes for Waldrom to open his account for his new club following the move from Leicester Tigers.

The try was initiated in their own 22 as impressive hands, control and creativity took them deep into the Exiles’ half. Gareth Steenson spotted a hole in the defence and off-loaded to the back-rower who crossed the whitewash unopposed.

Exeter had more chances to extend their advantage but a deserved second score didn’t arrive until the 27th minute when the Kiwi-born number eight went over. Slade then kicked a penalty late in the half to take them 17-0 ahead at the break.

Welsh head coach Justin Burnell would have looked for a response from his team in the second 40 but it didn’t arrive and Ewers was soon touching down for the Chiefs’ third try.

Hill secured the bonus-point when he intercepted and sprinted in from 40 metres out before Whitten continued the misery for the home side.

Arnott scored just a few seconds after coming on as a substitute and the embarrassment was finally ended for the hosts when Botha went over from long range.